An estimated 18 million Americans have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), including one in four women over 65, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
And several recent studies have linked OSA to health disorders specifically in women. Sleep apnea has been linked to dementia in older women, and another observational study found that women with untreated severe OSA are 3.5 times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than women without OSA.
Here’s another reason for women to take sleep apnea seriously: A first-of-its-kind study out of the UCLA School of Nursing discovered that women with sleep apnea are more likely to suffer a higher degree of brain damage than men with sleep apnea.
What is obstructive sleep apnea? OSA is a disorder that occurs when a person's breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep, sometimes hundreds of times a night. During each obstruction, the oxygen level in the blood drops, which over time, causes myriad health problems. For people with sleep apnea, the combination of disturbed sleep and oxygen starvation may lead to hypertension, heart disease and mood and memory problems, among other disorders.
The new UCLA study
UCLA has been on the cutting edge of sleep apnea research. About 10 years ago, the same UCLA research team that conducted the new study was the first to show that men with OSA have damage to their brain cells.
For the latest multi-year study, entitled "Sex Differences in White Matter Alterations Accompanying Obstructive Sleep Apnea,” the researchers studied patients diagnosed with OSA at the UCLA Sleep Laboratory. They compared the nerve fibers in the patients' brains, known as “white matter,” to the nerve fibers of people without OSA or other sleep problems. The goal was to find the differences in brain damage, if any, between men and women with OSA.
Results of the study
The researchers found that women are actually more affected by sleep apnea than men. Additionally, women with OSA have more severe brain damage than men suffering from a similar condition. The women with sleep apnea also showed higher levels of depression and anxiety symptoms.
Specifically, the study found that women were impacted in the cingulum bundle and the anterior cingulate cortex areas in the front of the brain involved in decision-making and mood regulation.
Based on the results, chief investigator Paul Macey said, “Doctors should consider that OSA in women may be more problematic and therefore need earlier treatment in women than men.”
With the results of this study as a foundation, the next step is for the researchers to find out if treating sleep apnea can help the brain.
In a “chicken or egg” scenario, did the OSA cause the brain damage, or did the brain damage cause the OSA? Or did the common conditions, such as depression, dementia or cardiovascular issues cause the brain damage, which in turn leads to sleep apnea?
The study and resulting questions are fascinating, and one thing is for sure: both men and women who are having trouble sleeping should get checked for obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.
Researchers estimate that up to 85 percent of people with severe sleep apnea have not been diagnosed yet.
Many times, sleep apnea can be misdiagnosed as chronic fatigue, insomnia, depression, or some other non-specific condition, so be specific about the symptoms you are experiencing.
Don't wait to get checked—it could save your life, or someone you love.
For more information, read the article, “Women with sleep apnea have higher degree of brain damage than men, UCLA study shows.”
And several recent studies have linked OSA to health disorders specifically in women. Sleep apnea has been linked to dementia in older women, and another observational study found that women with untreated severe OSA are 3.5 times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than women without OSA.
Here’s another reason for women to take sleep apnea seriously: A first-of-its-kind study out of the UCLA School of Nursing discovered that women with sleep apnea are more likely to suffer a higher degree of brain damage than men with sleep apnea.
What is obstructive sleep apnea? OSA is a disorder that occurs when a person's breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep, sometimes hundreds of times a night. During each obstruction, the oxygen level in the blood drops, which over time, causes myriad health problems. For people with sleep apnea, the combination of disturbed sleep and oxygen starvation may lead to hypertension, heart disease and mood and memory problems, among other disorders.
The new UCLA study
UCLA has been on the cutting edge of sleep apnea research. About 10 years ago, the same UCLA research team that conducted the new study was the first to show that men with OSA have damage to their brain cells.
For the latest multi-year study, entitled "Sex Differences in White Matter Alterations Accompanying Obstructive Sleep Apnea,” the researchers studied patients diagnosed with OSA at the UCLA Sleep Laboratory. They compared the nerve fibers in the patients' brains, known as “white matter,” to the nerve fibers of people without OSA or other sleep problems. The goal was to find the differences in brain damage, if any, between men and women with OSA.
Results of the study
The researchers found that women are actually more affected by sleep apnea than men. Additionally, women with OSA have more severe brain damage than men suffering from a similar condition. The women with sleep apnea also showed higher levels of depression and anxiety symptoms.
Specifically, the study found that women were impacted in the cingulum bundle and the anterior cingulate cortex areas in the front of the brain involved in decision-making and mood regulation.
Based on the results, chief investigator Paul Macey said, “Doctors should consider that OSA in women may be more problematic and therefore need earlier treatment in women than men.”
With the results of this study as a foundation, the next step is for the researchers to find out if treating sleep apnea can help the brain.
In a “chicken or egg” scenario, did the OSA cause the brain damage, or did the brain damage cause the OSA? Or did the common conditions, such as depression, dementia or cardiovascular issues cause the brain damage, which in turn leads to sleep apnea?
The study and resulting questions are fascinating, and one thing is for sure: both men and women who are having trouble sleeping should get checked for obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.
Researchers estimate that up to 85 percent of people with severe sleep apnea have not been diagnosed yet.
Many times, sleep apnea can be misdiagnosed as chronic fatigue, insomnia, depression, or some other non-specific condition, so be specific about the symptoms you are experiencing.
Don't wait to get checked—it could save your life, or someone you love.
For more information, read the article, “Women with sleep apnea have higher degree of brain damage than men, UCLA study shows.”
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